The Thirty-eight republic - Covid Carnage - Schools still waiting for test kits

[SantaAssociationRepresentitve]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders, and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Do not give the staffroom password just in case it attracts the wrong sort

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom and you will receive a detention

I don't think they've considered the rampant covid spread in schools that will continue without improving mitigation measures, and that it will leak back into the community.

That’s very much a running theme among ‘children are rarely I’ll with it’ people and anti-lockdowners. Which is a pity, because they don’t seem to understand it works the other way as well. If you can stop it spreading in the community, you can keep it out of schools as well.

Yeah I heard Halfon, sounding so helpful....

Don't diss the East Mids Honey! I don't think we have any men with eggy beards in our place, although a few younger ones with the trendy variety!

Apparently NASUWT have also written to DfE asking for two weeks closure.

Even the Independent Schools Council are "considering".

We’ve had an email from our head asking if we will be in on Monday (primary, Tier 4) or if we want to invoke S44.

DH is ECV so I have said I won’t be in, but it’s been a very difficult thing to do. I feel so sad that we’ve had to make this decision ourselves, rather than being protected by the government.

Yes nas whatever have written but it's a bit wishy washy and nothing solid to members yet. I am SO changing over. I'm due to renew in April but I might just say fuckit

I lost you all and foolishly blundered into the covid boards. Christ there's some wilful stupidity on the whole schools issue, though much, much less than before. I think 50K new cases a day and hospitals running low on oxygen means even the most batshit covid deniers are struggling to argue against the logic of school closures.

We've had a head email saying we are now allowed a mask when talking to parents! In for a full staff on Monday and "please bring questions". Fucking right I will! Wearing an actual mask. Head specifically says they feel parents are the problem not children.

Give me strength. My no drinking tonight has not happened.

Where do other unions stand on their members working in schools? eg dinner ladies?

@InspectorAlleyn Don't feel sad. Right choice. If I could do the same I would. My elderly mum lives with us with dementia and I dread bringing it home. You are ABSOLUTELY doing the right thing.

Great user name. I love inspector Alleyn. Together with @HarrietDVane I reckon we could do a full on crime club.

Parent's are the problem in what way?

@Piggywaspushed

Where do other unions stand on their members working in schools? eg dinner ladies?

They'll all come under UNISON won't they? Who's meeting tomorrow but haven't said that much, certainly no direct email

@JanuaryChill

Yeah I heard Halfon, sounding so helpful....

Don't diss the East Mids Honey! I don't think we have any men with eggy beards in our place, although a few younger ones with the trendy variety!

Apparently NASUWT have also written to DfE asking for two weeks closure.

Even the Independent Schools Council are "considering".

This was back in the year 2000. Feels like a Pulp reference

@Panickingpavlova

Parent's are the problem in what way?

In primary, drop off and pick up presumably, and maybe handover conversations with parents of littler ones?

There is much debate going on all day on our year group and all school chat about what to do.

I liked what the NEU bloke said on the news, if you were a builder and you turned up to your building site one day and realised it was unsafe for you and the general public then section 44 gives you the right to walk out to protect yourself and others.

NASUWT have been wet farts on all of this.

@Piggywaspushed

Where do other unions stand on their members working in schools? eg dinner ladies?

DH is support staff in a school. He was in Unison who had nothing to say on the matter. He’s just joined NEU.

So as secondary teachers do we send that letter now or wait until w/b 11th?

@phlebasconsidered thank you. It just goes against everything I believe in as I work in a very disadvantaged area with some very vulnerable children, but DH needs to come first. I’ve been teaching well over a decade and have never gone on strike or missed a day of school (apart from maternity stuff).

A crime club sounds fab. I love the Alleyn stories (and Marple, Poirot et al)!

it’s been a very difficult thing to do. I feel so sad that we’ve had to make this decision ourselves, rather than being protected by the government.
@InspectorAlleyn
So difficult, am sure you've made the right decision. You and your colleagues should never have been put in that position.
My council was listed in the first round of those closed - I can't imagine the stress of taking that decision on my shoulders. Sending support to all my fellow teachers.

@phlebasconsidered I was just thinking that! There are obviously a lot of crime fiction fans in the world of education!

I love all the detective novels, but Lord Peter stole my heart when I was at an impressionable age...

Lots of EU countries have had schools closed or part time for months. All this handwringing is ridiculous now.

Didn't Sweden have to close them recently?

Thinking about it, an nhs director is a school governor at my sons school. Just thinking about her "just in case" survey re KW places this morning... winding if there's been some heads ups...

I wonder if schools having to close might facilitate moving education staff onto the vaccine list?

@NeurotreeWenceslas

Didn't Sweden have to close them recently?

But surely in Sweden all their teaching is done outside and therefore we can do the same? /irony.

I would guess and personally say that if you have a good working relationship with your head you send that letter as an attachment to an email that says my union has asked me... I'm deeply committed to our school and the community we serve... I reluctantly attach x in response to the government approach etc.

Heads are going to have been following these announcements, know what union membership means, be massively aware of how unique fucked up these times are. You can say I feel really guilty and uncomfortable but I feel bound to follow the instructions of my union in hopes of better safety and care for my students and colleagues. It's a collective action